Nitrile vs Latex Gloves: What’s the Difference?

Latex gloves and nitrile gloves are not the same, even though they are both protective gloves. To understand their differences, we need first to compare the two. In this article, we will be focusing on what makes latex gloves different from nitrile gloves.

All About Latex Gloves

What are Latex Gloves?

Latex gloves are made out of natural rubber latex, which has been the traditional material used to manufacture disposable gloves. Most times, medical professionals and surgeons choose them as protective gloves for medical uses. They are highly effective in protection and performance across various industries, especially the medical and industrial sectors.

Benefits of Latex Gloves

The qualities of natural rubber latex, which is used to make latex gloves, make them very elastic and resistant to tears. They are also suitable for protection against biohazards like pathogens and specific chemicals.

Popular in Medicine

Latex gloves are highly synonymous with the medical industry because of their wide use by medical practitioners.
Based on popular opinion, it is said that latex gloves fit like a second skin. They have a high level of touch sensitivity, flexibility, dexterity, and comfort. They also have strong elastic properties that offer reliable performances. They provide the benefit of chemical resistance against acids, bases, iodine, and chlorine.

Cost-Effective and High-Quality

Latex gloves are equally preferable when it comes to price and performance. This is why they have gained popularity in industries like the food service industry, food processing industry, automotive and manufacturing industry, janitorial, and sanitation units. They offer the advantage of being lightweight with tactile sensitivity.

Fits like a Second Skin

An essential characteristic of latex is that it conforms to the hand close to providing the best fit and feel. This makes users more dexterous while wearing gloves. For instance, dentists and their assistants pick up small objects like tooth caps in the dental industry. Wearing gloves that loosely conform to their hands will only make it difficult to grasp those particular objects.

Sensitive & Durable

One of the advantages of latex gloves is that they are very palpable, and therefore, they are preferred for sensitive activities like surgery. They are also very durable, flexible, and very comfortable to put on. They are the best choice when dealing with water-based and biological materials.

Latex gloves come in various sizes and it doesn’t matter how long you wear them, as long as they fit your hand.

Eco-Friendly

Since they are made from a natural material, they are readily biodegradable than other glove counterparts.
They act as a form of shield for the hands and wrists when handling substances like detergents, alcohols, bodily fluids, abrasive materials, etc.

Types of Latex Gloves

There are two types of latex gloves, powdered and powder-free.

1. Powdered latex gloves have powder inside it that makes it easy to slip them off and hinder the latex from sticking to your hands. It’s ideal for workers who frequently take off their gloves and replace them with a new pair. The powder in the gloves is cornstarch, and it helps prevent irritation and keep the hands dry.
2. The powder-free latex gloves are gloves without powder in it. These became more prevalent in the food service and medical industry because of the advantage of not leaving a messy residue on the hands or equipment of use.

All About Nitrile Gloves

What are Nitrile Gloves?

Nitrile gloves are made out of synthetic rubber compounds. They are the best option for people who have to handle corrosive and hazardous chemicals. They are the ideal choice when it comes to puncture and chemical resistance.

Benefits of Nitrile Gloves

Users most prefer nitrile gloves because of their hand protection characteristics and synthetic nature.

Highly Robust

Nitrile overtook latex as the best glove production material because of its higher hand protection characteristics. It is the most robust material used to produce gloves, and this causes nitrile gloves to be tearing and puncture-resistant. Nitrile even has 3-4 times more puncture resistance than latex.

This is why nitrile gloves are the most preferred in risky work environments where different sharp objects are used. They protect the hands from cuts, piercings, bruises, and other physical injuries.

Non-Allergenic

Nitrile gloves are more popular than latex gloves because of allergic reactions. Latex gloves have natural rubber proteins that can cause some users to have allergic skin reactions. This is what makes people prefer nitrile gloves to avoid the risk of allergic skin reactions. Nitrile is completely latex-free. Hence, it is safe and healthy for use.

Conform to the Hands

Nitrile gloves fit comfortably to the hands and conform to the shape of the hands. They also react to body temperature to make sure of a comfortable fit. Just like latex gloves, they are also super fitting and comfortable.

Lower Friction

When it comes to friction, nitrile gloves have a low resistance when they are worn. This means you can quickly wear and remove your gloves without the risk of a tear. They don’t also require the use of powder to ensure ease of wear.

Waterproof

Nitrile gloves are 100% waterproof. This quality allows users to wear nitrile gloves underneath their regular working gloves to avoid water permeation.

They are highly recommended for damp working environments.

Long-Lasting

Nitrile gloves also have a longer shelf life than latex gloves. Since nitrile is a reliable and durable material, it produces high-quality gloves. These gloves last for a very long time while they are in storage.

Temperature Comfort

The thin film nitrile can dispel heat from the hand, reducing sweating and skin irritation for the user.

Medically Preferred

Some hospitals have switched to a 100% nitrile policy. For some other health centers, the use of nitrile gloves is combined with other medical gloves. In these cases, there is a limited supply of nitrile gloves reserved for times when there is a need for extra protection.

Nitrile vs Latex Gloves: Which is Superior?

When it comes to choosing between nitrile and latex gloves, the “better” choice largely depends on the user’s needs and sensitivities.

Latex gloves, made from natural rubber, have been the standard in many industries due to their excellent flexibility and tactile sensitivity. They’re also biodegradable, making them an environmentally friendly option. However, some people may have latex allergies, making latex gloves unsuitable for them.

Nitrile gloves, on the other hand, are made from synthetic rubber and are more resistant to punctures and chemicals. They’re also latex-free, making them an ideal choice for users with latex sensitivities. Therefore, while latex may be preferred for comfort and biodegradability, nitrile provides a safer and more durable alternative for many applications.

Find The Gloves You Need at CanGard

In conclusion, nitrile gloves from CanGardCare are more robust and of higher quality than latex gloves. Nitrile gloves also have excellent chemical resistance compared to latex gloves. However, nitrile gloves are a little more expensive than latex gloves. That’s why we offer unbeatable bulk pricing on essential hand protection. Browse our gloves today!